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Connor Keseric
Bennett
12th Lit Comp
14 September 2011
What Makes Fish Crank?
A shoemaker’s knife, sandpaper, and a hungry Finnish man named Lauri Rapala
were all it took to create one of the greatest fishing utensils ever created by man kind, the
crank bait ( “Rapala Crankbaits” ) . The crank bait is a fishing lure that is usually
consists of hard plastic but can be made of wood and cork as well and mimics the actions
of a wounded bait fish, which is absolutely irresistible to predatory fish like bass,
muskie, and pike. This bait will operate and please the fisherman much more with the
proper color, and use in the right weather conditions. Weather and color play a
remarkably large part in fishing lure success, and good luck to the fisherman that uses a
crank bait in the winter. Figuring out the ideal scenarios for a certain lure, like the crank
bait, is necessary for a successful day on the water. So for all the fishing enthusiasts out
there, knowing the right colors to use, the right times to fish, and maybe even a little
history behind the bait may bring the dream of landing that one lunker into reality.
In the early 1930’s, a man named Lauri Rapala started a dynasty
( “Rapala Crankbaits” ). This Finnish farmer watched large, predatory fish single out and
target the weakest and most vulnerable fish in the school day after day
( “Rapala Crankbaits” ). There on that Scandinavian lake, in the mind of this fishing lure
legend, the thought of the crank bait was conceived. Rapala arrived at home one day
with this idea ringing in his head, he then began whittling and carving for days with a

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shoemaker’s knife ( “Rapala Crankbaits” ), pursuing that perfect shape and weight for his
super bait, which could conceivably catch any predatory fish. The obvious benefits that
Rapala realized at first were a greater chance to catch fish and making money on the
extra fish he caught and selling them in the town market ( “Rapala Crankbaits” ). One
benefit that Rapala did not initially realize was that he did not have to keep re-baiting his
line with a new worm or baitfish every time he caught a fish ( “Rapala Crankbaits” ); he
simply reused the crank bait that he had created over and over again. This bait was so
simple; it was a piece of cork covered in tin foil and melted photo negatives to create a
hard, water resistant case around the outside( “Rapala Crankbaits” ). Back when Rapala
first made this lure with some simple household objects, this process of making a
homemade crank bait was most likely a week long project, but the final product was
pure genius. The crank bait utilized the most important rule in fishing lures: replicate the
movement of the fish’s real food as closely as possible. This bait worked so well that
word spread about Rapala’s success and ever since, the crank bait has been a tackle box
necessity. Rapala’s tin foil cover really was the perfect selection for the ultra clear lake
he fished on, and color really plays a part in catching fish.
Many people will argue that just about any sort of animal is colorblind, but not
a bass. Many expert fishermen will testify to this common belief of many amateur
fishermen ( Pierce ), and have tournament winnings to show for it. An inexperienced
fisherman may also believe that brighter colors trigger more bites than natural colors.
This statement is not true; success all depends on the weather conditions, clarity of the
water, and season, but that is for later. A lure should match the surroundings and the
color of the bait fish that the bass feeds on as closely as possible. In a murky lake where

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bass feed on bluegill, the bait should be very dark in color, simply because darker water
means darker fish, and bluegill are dark to begin with ( Brown ) . Someone who uses a
white lure in murky water would be lucky to catch a boot at the bottom of the lake. The
perfect time to use a white lure would be in very clear water on a sunny day. These are
the best conditions for a bright bait because bright baits reflect light, and they will not
function properly where sunlight is not abundant ( Brown ) . A bass’ vision has evolved
for hundreds of thousands of years to pick out the one certain fish it likes to eat in its
environment. Because a bass’ vision is so perfectly keyed in on that one type of fish, the
lure should come as close to the real color, shade, and design of that fish as possible.
Another variable that bass have been experiencing for hundreds of thousands of years is
the specific changes in the seasons and weather.
Spring, summer, fall, winter; these, as many people probably know, are the four
seasons, and for fishermen, four very different challenges. In the spring, bass are
spawning ( mating season ) in shallow flats in the water, usually along the bank or on a
high point out in the lake. Bass are one of the only fish that protect their offspring, and
they protect them violently. In spring, bass are protecting their nests from many different
types of creatures, such as bluegill, other bass, turtles, and any other big animal species in
or near a lake. One of the best times to catch a bass is during spawning time for this very
reason; the mother, and even the father sometimes, will attack anything that looks like it
might threaten their young. Fishermen use the spring time to their advantage every year
by simply looking for a nest and casting near it until something hits. This technique is
referred to as sight fishing, but that is for another day. A crank bait is often a good
choice for sight fishing because a crank bait can be bought in large sizes, which are

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much more threatening than a small bait to the bass protecting the nest at that time
( “Seasonal Lure Selection” ) . A large crank bait with the colors of a bluegill or bass
will often spark an instinctive strike by the bass guarding the nest ( Brown ), and
therefore lands a bass in the boat. In summertime, bass are attempting to regain their
weight prior to the spawning season by eating as mush as possible. In the summer, the
bait are also very abundant, and it almost excites the bass into feeding heavily. A good
crank bait in this situation will almost always get hit if the color is suitable for the
environment and it is not scalding hot outside. Hot weather means hot water, and as
long as the water does not get too hot, most lakes will hold enough oxygen for feeding
activity.
The colder seasons hold a lot more oxygen in the water, but again, too far in the
extreme direction and the fish just get too cold to worry about feeding and wasting
energy, all the bass want to do in the extreme cold is stay warm. There are many crank
bait sizes and shapes, and a slower - moving crank bait is definitely beneficial to the
fisherman in cold weather. Slower – moving crank baits work better in the colder
seasons because during fall and winter, the bass have already gained their weight back
for the next spawning season and only eat easy meals to maintain their weight. Bass do
not need to eat often during the colder seasons because their metabolisms slow way down
and they do not burn calories and energy nearly as fast, which enables the bass to keep
their weight much better. So, for a fisherman in the colder seasons, he has to present his
lure to the fish as a very vulnerable, easy target that will not require much energy for the
fish to obtain. Darker colors usually work better in winter as well, simply because it is
hard for bait fish to survive in the cold, so their body stops producing bright pigments to

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save energy for their bodies. Basically, the colder it gets, the harder it is to catch fish, but
leave it to the crank bait to solve any problem the weather may throw at a fisherman on
any given day.
Who would have thought that a hungry guy from Finland could have made a bait
so amazing that companies and business’ for decades after are still trying to make their
own version? In the right conditions and correct color choice, the crank bait can catch
any predatory fish fresh water can present. Color choice can be the deciding factor in a
fisherman’s success. Another key factor that fishermen should also pay attention to is
the weather and season that is currently effecting the fish and their feeding habits. If it is
hot, bright colors and fast moving baits, when cold, dark crank baits and a slow
presentation will do the trick. All of these factors can contribute to a fishing trip having
good or bad results. Hopefully, this history and tips about crank baits will help someone
truly have a great day on the lake.

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Works Cited
Brown, Roger. "Color Selection Simplified." Bass Resource. N.p., 2011. Web. 2
Sept. 2011. <http://www.bassresource.com/beginner/
color_fishing.html>.
Pierce, Virginia. "Color Perception." Bass Resource. N.p., 2011. Web. 6 Sept.
2011. <http://www.bassresource.com/beginner/
Choosing_Colors_selection.html>.
"Rapala Crankbaits." Bass Tackle Depot . Rapala, 2011. Web. 14 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.basstackledepot.com/rapala-crankbaits.aspx>.
"Seasonal Lure Selection ." Bass Resource. N.p., 2011. Web. 2 Sept. 2011.
<http://www.bassresource.com/beginner/seasonal_lure_selection.html>.